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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Testalonga Lords of Dogtowntext
93POINTS
17¼/20

Testalonga Lords of Dogtown 2019

Swartland, Coastal Region, South AfricaFrom one of SAF's leading natural wine wine producer, Testalonga (aka Craig and Carla Hawkins), Lords of Dogtown features a label photo that Carla snapped, and is a wine initially just produced for Japan and SAF. Then the UK received 12 bottles in the second year. 24 bottles made it to BC this year. From 13 rows of 1981 planted organically farmed bush vine chenin on Paardeberg's granite soils, this vineyard was previously abandoned, and this is the third year they have been resurrecting it. This was whole bunch pressed and native fermented in an old 500L oak cask with full MLF. SO2 was not added at any stage, and it was bottled without fining or filtration. Beautiful salinity streams throughout this chenin, shaping it around green and yellow apple, meadow grass, elderflower blossoms, subtle apricot fuzz, all spined with a beam of acidity that leads this long on the savoury palate. Impeccable balance in this subtle charmer.Tasted: 18 January 2021Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:
BC$58.00750mlprivate wine shops
Producer: TestalongaDistributors: Sur Lie
Juice Imports
The Living Vine
Grape: Chenin Blanc